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Newsweek Says MCPS Has 4 of the Top 100 HighSchools, None of them are Gaithersburg Schools

No Comments 10 June 2009

Four high schools in Montgomery County made Newsweek’s list of Top 100 High Schools in the Nation, including Richard Montgomery, B-CC, Wootton, and Churchill. There were no Gaithersburg schools that made the list, but I guess it’s nice to be in good company.

ROCKVILLE, MD—Newsweek magazine has ranked four Montgomery County public high schools in the top 100 high schools in the nation. All of the county’s eligible schools are counted among the top 3.5 percent in the country, according to the Newsweek list released on the Internet today.

The four top high schools and their rankings are:

  • Richard Montgomery—38
  • Bethesda-Chevy Chase—55
  • Thomas S. Wootton—58
  • Winston Churchill—94

Rounding out the top 110 schools are Walt Whitman—104 and Walter Johnson—109.

Dang, we didn’t even make the top 110. Let’s hope we do better next time, although I wouldn’t be surprised if Gaithersburg schools are just a little lower on the list. Either way, you’ve really got to give it up for Montgomery County Schools. Getting 6 high schools in the top 110 goes to show just how good the schools are in our area.

Hopefully the increased MCPS budget of “$133 million (6.4 percent) over the current FY 2009 Operating Budget of $2.07 billion” will improve our rankings next year.

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County and Community Providers Bring Emergency Food and Housing Services Now Open in Gaithersburg and Wheaton

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County and Community Providers Bring Emergency Food and Housing Services Now Open in Gaithersburg and Wheaton

No Comments 09 June 2009

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), in partnership with local municipalities and community-based organizations, has opened Neighborhood Service Centers in Gaithersburg and Wheaton to bring emergency food and housing stabilization services to areas hit hardest by the current economic crisis.

Working in partnership with Family Services, Inc., IMPACT Silver Spring, the City of Gaithersburg, Interfaith Works and the Community Foundation, the Gaithersburg Neighborhood Service Center (NSC) opened in March at the Family Services’ offices, located at 602 East Diamond Avenue. The center is open Monday from 2 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 5:30 p.m. and serves families and individuals in the 20877 zip code. In addition to providing access to services at the Gaithersburg Center, the NSC is located within a complex of other non-profit providers, including Home Free-USA, Manna Food, the Dwelling Place, Guide Youth Services, Interfaith Upcounty Clothing Center, Teen and Young Adult Health Connection, Community Clinic and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.

The Wheaton Neighborhood Service Center, with Catholic Charities as the lead non-profit partner agency, opened in late April at 12247 Georgia Avenue. The center is open Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and serves families and individuals in zip codes 20902 and 20906.

Montgomery County has not been immune from the economic downturn and many neighborhoods have been hit hard by rising unemployment, hunger, evictions and foreclosures. The County’s Department of Health and Human Services’ data shows higher rates of evictions, increased reports of child neglect and domestic abuse, and emergency assistance requests.

The centers are staffed by “community connectors” who have been trained by Health and Human Services to assist residents in completing applications for food stamps, utility assistance and health services; collecting documents required for the applications; and making referrals to other resources when needed. Residents can apply for the following services at the centers:

• Temporary Cash Assistance

• Food Stamps

• Medical Assistance

• Eviction Prevention and Utility Disconnections

• Home Energy Programs and Rental Assistance

In addition, residents are screened for eligibility for a variety of other DHHS services.

IMPACT Silver Spring is leading a grassroots campaign in partnership with neighborhood apartment and townhouse complex and other residents to raise awareness of the new resources available. Through door-to-door and community outreach services, IMPACT Silver Spring connects residents to community resources and other support groups.

For more information, call the Gaithersburg Center at 301-840-4080 and the Wheaton Center at 301-942-1790.

# # #

Media Contact: Mary Anderson, 240-777-6534

We’ve also been following @MannaFoodCenter on twitter. We suggest you follow them too! Discover how a small donation can really help people out in Montgomery County.

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"Broadway Treasures" at Gaithersburg Arts Barn

No Comments 21 May 2009

For Immediate Release
May 20, 2009

Gaithersburg, MD. The Arts Barn, the City of Gaithersburg’s premiere cultural arts facility, presents a Rockville Musical Theatre production of Broadway Treasures: Past … and Present, Fridays and Saturdays June 12 through 20 at 8 p.m. Admission is $18, $16 for City of Gaithersburg residents.

Songs will be performed from a wide range of popular Broadway shows including “Hello, Dolly,” “West Side Story,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Les Miserables,” “Wicked,” and “Ragtime.” Lesser known recent Broadway shows will also be represented, such as “Parade,” “Little Women,” and “Tick Tick Boom.” Join five WATCH-nominated actors/actresses as they take you on this musical journey across the Broadway landscape.

The Arts Barn is located at 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. For more information and tickets call 301-258-6394 or visit online.

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Gaithersburg Girl, 13, "Critically Missing"

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Gaithersburg Girl, 13, "Critically Missing"

1 Comment 29 April 2009

victoria-ivanova-scheinman

UPDATE: Victoria Ivanova Scheinman has been found.

GAITHERSBURG, Md. – Montgomery County police are asking for help finding a 13-year-old they have listed as “critically missing”.

Victoria Ivanova Scheinman was last seen about 7 p.m. Tuesday night at her home in the 9800 block of Mahogany Drive in Gaithersburg, police said. She did not make it to school Wednesday and her family is concerned about her safety, police said.

Scheinman is described as a 13-year-old white female, 5′ tall, 95 pounds with shoulder-length black hair. She wears glasses and has braces with green bands. She was last seen wearing a blue tank top, pink shorts with butterflies, and black flip flops.

Anyone who has information about Victoria Ivanova Scheinman’s whereabouts is asked to contact Family Crimes Division at 240-773-5400 or the Montgomery County Police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000

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Gaithersburg Restaurant Cook Suspect in Meat Cleaver Attack

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Gaithersburg Restaurant Cook Suspect in Meat Cleaver Attack

No Comments 29 April 2009

yuan-jun-li

A cook at a restaurant in Gaithersburg stabbed another employee in the back with a meat cleaver after an argument, police said today.  According to police, on the night of April 17, Yuan Jun Li and the victim argued in Bubble Cafe Pho, in a shopping center parking lot on Darnestown Road.  The 48-year-old suspect is accused of chasing the victim through a parking lot with the meat cleaver, stabbing him and then kicking and punching him.  The victim was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Charging documents say the stabbing left the victim with a “large gaping wound.”

Read More | Source: WashingtonPost.com

Gaithersburg Fairgrounds Could Be Relocated

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Gaithersburg Fairgrounds Could Be Relocated

No Comments 05 March 2009

fairgroundsThe Gazette recently reported that the city Gaithersburg and the Charter behind the fairgrounds have shown interest in relocating the now 62.3 acre property. The 60 year old facility is located when the town center of Gaithersburg was originally planned.

The way this particular area of Gaithersburg has grown, it just doesn’t make sense to have the fairgrounds located here. If you’ve ever tried to drive anywhere close to the Gaithersburg Square/Lakeforest during any event, the Agricultural Fair in particular, you know how much of a pain it is to navigate.

Beyond DC believes that this is a great time for a different kind of development for this area. Especially with the Corridor Cities Transitway underway, and the Watkins Mill Town Center just a little North on Frederick RD/355.

Whatever does happen, I firmly believe that the area surround the Fairgrounds needs a major facelift. Lakeforest isn’t much more than a parking lot for the surrounding car dealerships these days. Hopefully some new life will be brought into the area soon.

For more information on upcoming developments in the area, Beyond DC has a great resource.

Thanks to Melanie Phung for the beautiful aerial shot of the fairgrounds


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Neal's Bagels

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Neal's Bagels

1 Comment 24 January 2009

12141 Darnestown Road
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878
301-216-0070

Their Specialty: Bagels

[googleMap name="Neal's Bagels" width="250" height="250"]12141 Darnestown Rd, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20878[/googleMap]

It has been well over 5 years since I had my first bagel from Neal’s Bagels and the rest is history… As a matter of fact, I’m eating a fresh everything bagel covered in cream cheese as we speak.

Neal’s Bagels is a family-run operation, and has been serving the area since 2000. It is a popular breakfast destination for commuters and students alike. Every day before the first bell at Quince Orchard Highschool, dozens of student line up to get their carb load to get them throught the first 4 classes before lunch. On the weekend, expect to see quite a line as local residents get their “Neal’s Fix”.

What make Neal’s Bagels so popular? The answer is simple. You simply can’t find a better bagle anywhere else in Gaithersburg. At least I haven’t and I’m quite the bagel connoisseur. Their bagels are handrolled, which is easy to see by the weird shapes they sometimes end up in, but it just adds to the character of this little bagel shop. Every morning that you go into Neal’s Bagels you are getting freshly baked bagels, using the best ingredients.

You can get a bagel with your choice of fixings for as little as $1, and can get a baker’s dozen for around $10 if I remember correctly. The service is always quick, and the owner, his wife, or his son are always there to provide a personal touch.

Watch Out For New Speed Cameras!

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Watch Out For New Speed Cameras!

9 Comments 24 January 2009

On Tuesday, due to the Inauguration, I was terrified of driving the Beltway, so I opted to take the back roads. Down Quince Orchard Rd, past the high school, through North Potomac, then Potomac. I took a more scenic route home. The areas surrounding Darnestown Rd, River Rd, Turkeyfoot Rd, etc.

Luckily I’m a fairly cautious driver and was hovering around the speed limit, because the number of speed cameras in this area must have doubled in the last couple months alone. I’m all for safety, but the speed cameras in the area are ridiculous.

It’s one thing to have them in high trafficked areas, like the one just North of Midcounty Highway and Route 124, for the safety of drivers and pedestrians. But I have to say OVERKILL when you put 5+ cameras within a 15 mile radius, where there are very few vehicles and even fewer pedestrians.

When I started seeing “SCAM” written in chalk just before the speed cameras, I knew I wasn’t the only one.

Why the speed cameras?

I think it is naive to believe that the state, county, or whoever is in charge is doing this out of concern for its citizens. This is an easy source of money for the government, and it is in their best interest to put up as many of these speed cameras as possible.

What’s worse is that the company that owns and operates these cameras is getting paid a commission for every ticket issued. This gives them a lot of motive to increase the ticket rate by making cameras hard to see, and other means of increasing the ticketing rate.

It is in the best interest of the state/county and the agency that owns the cameras to install as many cameras as possible, so they can make more money.

Upon Further Research…

I discovered that I’m far from the only person upset with these cameras. In fact there are numerous blogs dedicated to getting these speed cameras removed or to improve the legislation surrounding them.

Other sources:


What you can do (source):

Join the cause, write a representative, fight the ticket, or avoid getting a ticket all together. DC Camera Fraud can put it into words better than I can.

Update: 1/29/2009

The Washington Post reports that the camera on the 900 block of Quince Orchard Road has been activated.

However, I drove by this afternoon and saw no signs of the cameras. Either they aren’t up yet or they’ve gotten really good at hiding the cameras.

I’ll try to report in tomorrow to confirm.
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